Four-time Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence made the fastest run in Pacific Raceways history on Friday, powering to the provisional No. 1 position at the NHRA Northwest Nationals. Austin Prock (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers.
In the first-ever night session at Pacific Raceways, Torrence, the defending event winner in Seattle, went 3.688 seconds at 335.32 mph in his Capco Contractors/Toyota dragster under the lights. If that holds, Torrence, who is looking for his first win since his Seattle triumph last year, would earn his second top qualifier of the season and 39th in his career.
“To go out and run 335, that’s a stout run,” Torrence said. “Tonight’s a hero run for all of us, and not really going to be relevant for anything tomorrow or race day, but you kind of get to pound your chest a little bit and say, ‘Hey, we’re low E.T., we’re No. 1. I think that that’ll stay safe for the rest of the weekend so we’ll get ready for our race day tune up now.
“It was really cool. There were are a lot of fans here and to race in front of at night was special. The people here at Pacific Raceway did a great job trying to put on a good show for the fans, and that’s what it’s about.”
Justin Ashley is currently second after going 3.694 at 331.04 and Brittany Force is third with a 3.701 at 333.08.
Funny Car points leader Austin Prock continued his absolute domination in qualifying on Friday, making the best run of both sessions and just missing the track record under the lights, going 3.838 at 328.62 in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS. It was an incredible run that easily put him atop the field, which could cement his eighth No. 1 qualifier in the first 11 races of the season. Prock was thrilled to put together a standout run in the first night session in Pacific Raceways history, putting him on track for what he hopes is another stellar weekend.
“It was another great day for this Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS. These guys are just animals,” Prock said. “I know I keep saying that, but they impress me every weekend. They were making adjustments up until we fired the race car in the water box, just fine tuning, reading the racetrack, reading the competition, and they obviously made a really good call. I believe it will hold [as No. 1] because it’s going to be pretty hot tomorrow.”
